Climate 7th Grade

Climate What is Climate? As a Group come up with a definition of this term. Just use each others brains, no other resources.

Climate Climate is the pattern of weather that occurs in an area over many years. Climate determines that types of plants and animals that can survive, and it influences how people live.

Factors that can effect a locations climate Latitude on Earth Land forms like mountains and cities Lakes and oceans Ocean currents Wind

Latitude and climate Regions closest to the equator receive more solar radiation and this effects their climate. Polar Zone Temperate Zone Tropics

Latitude and Climate Tropics Latitude between 23.5 north - 23.5 south Receive that most solar radiation(Direct sun) Always hot, unless at a high elevation

Latitude and Climate Temperate Zone Between 23.5 and 66.5 North and South Temperatures are moderate Most of the United states are in this zone

Latitude and Climate Polar Zone Extends from 66.5 N and S to the poles of Earth Solar radiation hit these zones at a low angle, spreading the energy over a large area. Never warm

Large bodies of water May effect the climate by absorbing and letting off heat at a different rate of the land around it

Ocean currents Warm currents flow from the equator and warm the coastal land in higher latitudes. May cause wetter climate as well Cool currents flow back toward the equator and cool the air near the equator.

Mountains Climate is always colder at the same latitude up in the mountains rather than at sea level. Why? Thinner less heated air higher in the atmosphere. Rain Shadows: when mountains cause climate to be different from one side to the other.

Cities Streets, parking lots, and buildings absorb and give off a lot of heat and heat the atmosphere. Air pollution traps the heat. (Heat-island effect) Cities often can be 5 Degrees higher than in surrounding rural areas.

List four factors that effect climate of an area.

Factors that can effect a locations climate Latitude on Earth Land forms like mountains and cities Lakes and oceans Ocean currents Wind… we will learn about next

Questions?

Show me what you remember!  Review: I’m thinking of a word…. Infiltration Transpiration Precipitation Condensation Evaporation Conduction Convection Radiation

Summary of Heat Transfer

Air Movement Wind: movement of air from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure.

Air Movement The Coriolis Effect: causes the air in the northern hemisphere of our earth to turn to the right and the air in the southern hemisphere to turn to the left. http://youtu.be/mcPs_OdQOYU

Balloon Coriolis effect DEMO

Air movement Doldrums: windless rainy region close to the equator! Why? Near the equator, the sun heats the air and causes it to rise, creating low pressure and little wind. The rising air eventually cools and it then rains.

Air movement Jet Stream: Narrow belt of strong winds high in the troposphere blowing in the East direction. Why is this called the “Jet stream”?

Air movement Sea and Land breeze: Sea breeze comes from the sea Land breeze comes from the land

Air movement Easterlies: come from the east and blow toward the west. Located at the poles. Westerlies: Come from the west and blow toward the East. Trade winds: Come from east and blow toward the west (Sailors used these back in the day to Trade STUFFF.. Yes Stuff  )

Questions Climate vs weather https://youtu.be/YbAWny7FV3w

Section 3: Climatic Changes Earths Seasons: Are short periods of climate change caused by changes in the amount of solar radiation an area receives.

El Nino El Nino: Weak wind, from the warm tropical water in the upper layers of the pacific ocean flow eastward to South Africa Ocean temperatures increase from 1- 7degrees Celsius of the cost of Peru. Can effect the weather patterns in these areas.

La Nina Opposite of El Nino! Strong winds, causing warm water to accumulate in the western Pacific. The water in the eastern pacific near Peru is cooler than normal. May cause droughts in southern united states and excess rainfall in north western US.

Climate Change Records Earths climate has been generally cooler in the past and has also been generally warmer at other times in the past.

What can cause climatic change? Atmospheric solids and liquids Block solar radiation Energy from the sun Sun spots can cause less solar radiation Earth movements Earths axis varies from 21 to 24 Degrees Amount of solar energy Change in axis can increase/ decrees solar radiation on earth. Crustal plate movement Movement of land and ocean effects heat transfer

Climatic Changes Today Many people are concerned about our current climates increase in temperature. Some believe the greenhouse effect may be the cause of this temperature increase. Greenhouse effect: Natural process of heat being trapped by gases in our atmosphere.

Climatic Changes Today Earths temperature has increased about 0.6 degrees Celsius globally. This is known as global warming. Possible causes: carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 20%! Suns solar radiation has decreased. Effects: glaciers will melt, sea levels will rise, coastal land will flood, tropical climates will die in the seas.

Human Activities What are some human activities that may effect our atmosphere??

Review Prevailing Westerlies Climate Rain Shadow Effect Air movement Sea Breeze Condensation Temperate Zone Coriolis Effect Trade Winds Doldrums Tropics Hydrosphere El Nino & La Nina Jet Stream Greenhouse effect Land Breeze Global warming Latitude Human Impact Polar Easterlies Carbon Cycle Polar Zone

Questions

Adaptations An Adaptation is any structure or behavior that helps an organism survive in its environment. Structural Adaptations Behavioral Adaptations

Structural Adaptations Body structures that help the organism. Fur on mammals Thorn on a cacti

Behavioral Adaptations Organisms may display behavioral adaptations. Rodents and other mammals may have a period of greatly reduced activity during hibernation or estivation to save energy. Desert turtles obtain their water from other things they eat.

Hibernation and Estivation Period of inactivity Hibernation= in the winter when it is too cold Estivation= in the summer when it is too hot

Bell work Section 2 What are the two types of Adaptations? Give one example of each